The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-30
THE OXFORD BEARS.
Its Sixth Reunion a Norwegian Hug
"A Feast of Good Things for the
Elect and a Gala Day for All.

It's SAtn Reunion norwegian rug
"A Feast of Good Things for the
Elect and a Gala Day for All.
Give me an item" said the despairing
local editor of the PRESS to gentleman
whom he casually met one rainy day of 1882.
THAT / will do with pleasure" was the re-
ply. Say, ''the sons and daughters of Ok
ford resident in Portland and Vicinity are
talking of having reunion" He said it.
A chord at once began to yibrate. Touching
many hearts whose throbbipgs have con-
tinued to pulsate with pleasure ever since.
These gentlemen builded better than they
knew. This was the germ of the "oxford
Bear Association" which has become an
established institution. Yesterday its sixth
reunion came off, and in all particulars was
grand success.
At ITO a. IN. five cars emerged from the
Grand Trunk station filled with Bears" of
all sorts, sizes and conditions from the old
grizzly down to the delicate white cubs in
all amounting to 205. and accompanied by
Chambers Band. After pleasant two
hours ride all were loose upon the villagers
of Norway, who instead of fleeing opened
wide their arms to receive the huge and mot
ly crowd, men, women and children filling
the streets as though Barnum's circus had
come once more to make its usual but "last
visit" We were met, however, more parti-
cularly bya committee of citizens, who,
after giving cordial grip to our ursa major,
invited the visitors to form into line, and
march to the strains of Chambers best
music to halt for while at an inn which
soon crowded it to the capacity of "Three
Jasons, whom when Paul saw" we, "thank-
ed God, and took courage" After brief
rest the company embarked in carriages pro-
vided by the Norwegians, and were conduc-
ted through all the streets of the village, and
that at Steep Falls, thence to Pemssawasse
Lake, (known in the days when the writer
used to take his sweetheart TO ride as Nor
way Pond which has become quite famous
as resort of fishermen for black bass, and
upon whose placid bosom was seen small
! steamer coming down as If to give its quota
to the general welcome. Several boat
honses. and the waterworks created to sup
ply Norway and South Paris with water, were
also among the new features noticeable
| Those who chose continued their ride up
Pixies Hill, Immediately southwesterly of
the village, from which charming landscape
was to be seen in every direction. Return
ing to headquarters at Reals Hotel, a rest
was enjoyed until half past one, when the
| line ofmarch was resumed to a spacious and
| pleasant hall where tables were spread
| amply sufficient for the nearly $50 who took
| their seats. The dinner was all that could
| be expected, but was necessarily provided
| at the hall, and had to be carried some dis
| lance from the Hotel and all had an album
4 danQp of r000 things alfbOuOb
| pany was larger than was expected. This
| entertainment is also to be accredited to the
citizens of Norway.
On being seated, Vice President b. d. Fer
| rill presiding, Mr.. S. s. Stearns in behalf of
! our hosts made an admirable speech of well
| come, but had the good sense to be brief
| well approaching the fact that qualification
OF good appetite has not become a lost art
among Oxford people wherever found. Dr.
| A. X. p. Small then invoked blessing, and
what followed needs not and could not be
| reported. The galleries were hlled with
| pleasant people with smiling faces, who evil
| IDENTIFY enjoyed the scene before them. Then
began the speeches led off by President Yer
rill, who felcitously eomplimented the peo-
pie of Norway for their generous hospitality,
and bore special testimony to their virtues
| from knowledge acquired by personal resi-
dence among them until leaving there twen-
| ty-five years ago.
Mayor Chapman followed, deeming it emf
| nently fitting that the members of the asso-
| oHOuiQ ldfC LlltlT reunions on Tnelr
native soil; complimented Norway as the
most prosperous town in the county; allud-
ed TO the Importance OF improving the valu-
| able water power in other localities, and
paid handsome tribute to the soldiers of
Norway, who were among the first to go to
| the front.
III. l. Kimball of Atlanta, was then pre-
sented as now a resident of the New South.
lie responded happily, reminding the compa-
ny present that itcould hardly claim to be
the original Bear Association, for it was an
tlcipated by an engine company in Norway
many years ago, of which he was member.
but he was now happy to welcome the full
grown child on its visit to the home of its
father. He went to Georgia a Republican,
and could assure all that no man had met
with better fellowship than he
Judge Wilson of South Paris followed in
humorous speech, which was well received.
brought down the house by relating pleasant
stories, intermingled with tributes to the
| people of his native county
j. P. Swasev of Canton cities are omitted
as squire and elder, are the only two
known to the older residents of Oxford.)
made speech of some length, which fully
| sustained his reputation, and in II he said
the citizens Of Oxford county were justified
IN making high claims for its famous men !;
| but there were some good ones left, and as in
the past so in the future, the county could be
relied on for any emergency, in peace or war.
MT. ii: w. Ripley then read a pleasing po-
| EN-, put his modest reading rendered il diff
cult to be appreciated as it deserved. AS the
hour for return had nearly arrived the
speech making had, at p. M, to be sus-
| pended.
Throughout the day Chandler and his as
socrates contributed very largely to the
pleasure of the day. Among the side shows
| was an actual specimen of black cub which
| was led up and down the street passing the
hotel, and at the dinner that presented by
Prot. Bartlett some years ago upon the hall
| platform, showed his teeth as usual
Too much praise cannot be awarded the
citizens of Norway for their attention and
unwonted hospitality, to the committee in
| charge, consisting of S. S. Stearns, K. b.
Houghton, G. b. Bailey, George r. Howe.
and Mr. Horne, and our home committee
| who ARRANGED forlthe excursion, f. E. Booth
| by, e. ID. Brown, E. s. Osgood, p. C. Man
| ming and M. E. Bolton are deemed entitled
| to special thanks
The furitans were accustomed to divide
mankind into classes, the elect and the nom
| elect. From expressions heard on every
| hand as we approached the Portland station.
these Oxford people seemed to have inherit
ed similar split of classification, but In
modified form, of Oxford and non-Oxford
sons and daughters. If the non-elect desire
| to know who the former are, they can ioin in
the excursion next year, and have something
pleasant to anticipate until it comes of.
| URsA MINOR
| Portland Row